Engaging with Pasifika
Build cultural understanding and practical skills to connect authentically and work effectively with Pasifika communities.
Course overview
Understanding and engaging effectively with Pasifika communities is essential for creating inclusive and equitable outcomes in Aotearoa. This one-day workshop equips participants with cultural insights, practical tools, and proven strategies to build stronger connections with Pacific peoples. Through practical, proven approaches and expert facilitation, participants will explore the values, traditions, and communication styles that shape Pasifika experiences.
This course is ideal for professionals working in public service, education, health, social services, or policy roles—anyone seeking to work more effectively with Pasifika individuals, families, and communities.
Participants will leave with greater cultural confidence, deeper awareness of the Pacific context in Aotearoa, and clear strategies to support respectful and impactful engagement.
What you'll learn
- Deepen your understanding of Pasifika cultures to foster more respectful and effective engagement.
- Identify key values and worldviews that influence Pasifika perspectives and interactions.
- Strengthen your ability to build trust and rapport with Pacific individuals, families, and communities.
- Apply practical techniques to improve communication and collaboration across cultural contexts.
- Recognise barriers to engagement and learn strategies to address them with cultural sensitivity.
- Enhance your confidence in working with Pasifika by building cultural knowledge and relational skills.
- Develop action-oriented approaches to improve outcomes and strengthen partnerships with Pasifika groups.
Course modules
Setting the Context
Begin by exploring the Aotearoa New Zealand and Pacific context, including demographic shifts and the importance of culturally responsive engagement. Understand why this matters and how improved engagement benefits both agencies and communities.
Self-Awareness and the Package You Bring
Reflect on your own cultural lens and biases. Recognise how your background, assumptions, and communication style can influence your interactions and effectiveness when working with Pasifika peoples.
Cultural Foundations and Motivational Drivers
Learn about shared Pasifika cultural values—such as respect, reciprocity, and collective responsibility—and how these values shape decision-making, behaviour, and motivation.
Cultural Models and Approaches to Engagement
Explore proven models of Pacific engagement and how to adapt your approach to establish trust and connection. Gain practical insights into how to communicate effectively across cultures.
Building Connection and Communication
Develop strategies for adjusting your communication style to build rapport with Pasifika individuals and groups. Understand the subtle nuances that foster trust and long-term engagement.
Practical Tools and Scenarios
Receive key Dos and Don’ts for culturally appropriate practice. Engage in scenarios to apply new knowledge, navigate common challenges, and practise respectful interaction.
What Next? Navigating the Cultural Currents
Wrap up by identifying next steps to integrate learning into practice. Develop an action plan to continue strengthening relationships with Pasifika communities.
Further Information
Approach
Catalyst Pacific uses a deceptively simple powerful Appreciate approach to professional learning and development. The presenters draw on a range of cultural and learning models to tap into participants own experience to connect and embed the course content and shared learning.
This workshop is highly interactive incorporating a range of facilitation techniques including: peer-to-peer interaction, small group and wider group discussion, practical scenarios based on the participant’s real-life challenges, and a take-away resource workbook for ongoing and future reference.
Catalyst Pacific
The presenters for Engaging with Pasifika are Holona and Trish Lui, the principals of Catalyst Pacific Ltd, a NZ based learning and development consultancy. They have a specialist area of expertise, in building cultural intelligence and effective cross-cultural communication to support high performance in teams and organisations to build and strengthen relationships and achieve their business objectives.
In this course they focus on effective engagement with Pasifika in New Zealand and abroad.
Holona and Trish have a proven track record with more than 20 years’ experience working with leadership tiers, and influential groups and individuals in public sector, private sector, and not-for-profit businesses and organisations.
In doing this, they draw on in a wide variety of proven learning and development, and international cross-cultural communications and cultural competency development tools and frameworks. These include among others; Appreciative Inquiry, the Richard Lewis CultureActive model, the award winning Inter-Cultural Global DISC (iDISC™), ExcelL (Excellence in Cultural Experiential Learning and Leadership) Intercultural Skills Programme, StrengthsFinder, TetraMap, Team Management Index profiling (TMI) and 360-degree feedback.
Trish holds a Bachelor of Arts (English Literature and Education, Victoria University of Wellington) and Certificate in Te Ara Reo Māori Level 4 from Te Wananga of Aotearoa. Trish’s previous roles include: Programme Director for the New Zealand College of Management, which had a joint venture with Victoria University of Wellington for the Centre for the Study of Leadership. Trish is also part of delivering the Victoria University’s ‘Aspire: Women’s Leadership Development Programme’.
Holona holds Bachelor of Arts (English Literature, Victoria University of Wellington) and a Diploma in Teaching (NZ). Holona’s previous roles include: Manager, Communications for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Senior Presentation Director for Television New Zealand and secondary teaching, including English as a Second Language. Holona is also a self-published author of ‘Keeping it REAL, Mentoring with Cultural Intelligence’.
Both are members of the New Zealand Association of Positive Psychology (NZAPP) and have a strong interest in high performance sport.
Management Capability Development Fund
This course is registered with the Management Capability Development Fund.
Small businesses may qualify for funding to help pay for services such as training workshops, courses and coaching that build the management capabilities of their owners and key managers.
Management Capability Development funding is only available through the Regional Business Partner Network (RBP) Growth Advisors and can be used with service providers registered with the RBP Network.
Funding may be provided to a business where the Growth Advisors have identified a need for management training as part of an action plan to support the business owner to grow and innovate their business. Business owners are then able to select a service from a registered Service Provider.
For more information on the Management Capability Development Fund or to find your local Growth Advisor go to www.regionalbusinesspartners.co.nz.
Here's what others are saying
“Trish and Holona have a great dynamic which makes the class feel welcoming, personal and genuine. Thank you.”
“This is a fantastic course. Should be fundamental before working in the Pacific.”
“Holona & Trish have a relaxed, engaged & interactive approach that is helpful and relevant. An extremely thorough workbook that will be useful going forward”
“We received such a warm welcome in a truly Pasifika style from Holona and Trish which helped set the tone completely for the session ahead. The course really helped to put things in perspective for me and build on the knowledge that I had prior. I believe that I am definitely better equipped now to make truly meaningful, long lasting relationships within the Pacific communities which is brilliant.”
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